It was time. Proud of Candice for making the decision. Mason had 6+ years, and though I liked him a lot as a person, he wasn’t going to get us to bowls and building to championships which we can do at an elite national school, that has a spectacular city, plays in the best conference in the country, and like they say, “The city, the degree, the SEC.” We need a coach who can sell that and instill it in our players that we can be elite in football. We are in baseball, Corbs has done it. We can do it in basketball; Stack has a shot at doing it. Scott Limbaugh at men’s golf, we’re on the verge of winning a national championship, if not this year, in the next couple of years. Women’s Soccer under Darren Ambrose is spectacular. Women’s Tennis under Geoff McDonald has been elite and should continue to be that way.

So it can be done in football, and I’m not limiting it to just going to bowl games. Chancellor Diermeier and Candice want championship and eliteness in football and will upgrade the facilities.

The first coach that comes to my mind is Billy Napier of Louisiana. He’s exceptional. He’s a southerner, but so relatable to all players from all backgrounds. He can do a terrific job. He’s been exceptional at Louisiana. Has them playing super football.

The names being circulated are Jamey Chadwell of Coastal Carolina, and he’s excellent, but not positive about his character, read some stuff on him that gives me pause.

Will Healy of Charlotte is another, but he hasn’t done that much at Charlotte.

Clark Lea, defensive coordinator at Notre Dame, is another. Possible. Hesitant to hire another defensive coordinator with no head coaching experience, but open to him. Somebody brought up Jeff Fisher, and that’s a big fat NO.

I really like Billy Napier as my first choice at this time.

Would like to see us keep this recruiting class and add some more. 36th by Rivals, so very solid class that can be enhanced with a new coach, who can lock down most all of these guys and add some more excellent pieces.

Will keep you posted on this crucially important decision for Vanderbilt Athletics.